Gastonia man arrested in Cleveland County and charged with kidnapping

A Gastonia man was arrested Thursday in Cleveland County and charged with kidnapping a child from out of state.

Brandon Kyle Prichard, 38, of Gastonia was arrested around 9:30 p.m. Thursday after he was stopped while driving north on I-85 in Cleveland County.

Cleveland County Sheriff’s officers stopped the vehicle and found the child reported missing. Prichard was arrested and charged with first-degree child abduction, concealed weapon possession and human trafficking of a child, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

Prichard is being held on $1 million bail.

The FBI and Warren County Sheriff’s Office are currently conducting an active investigation, the press release said.